ACE VERGEL: CHILD STAR OF THE 50s

Ace Vergel, born Ace York Aguilar (January 22, 1952 – December 15, 2007),was a Filipino actor dubbed "The Original Bad Boy of Philippine Movies".[1] He was the son of the late Alicia Vergel and César Ramírez, and the brother of Beverly Vergel.Personal life:He was married and had a son Martin Asturias (1972–2009).

Film career:He made his first movie at the age of 7 where he played the friend of a giant bird in the 1959 film Anak ng Bulkan. The movie starred Fernando Poe Jr. and Edna Luna.

In 1989, Vergel won best actor at Gawad Urian for his role in the film Anak ng Cabron.

Controversies:On August, a warrant of arrest was issued in Caloocan City for rape
cases filed against him in 2000, but he was later released; he was also
linked to illegal drugs, but the cases against him were dismissed.[2]

Death:Vergel died of heart attack on December 15, 2007 at the age of 55 a day after the third death anniversary of his friend and fellow actor Fernando Poe Jr.

Ace Vergel

dubbed as the "The Original Bad Boy of Philippine Movies," was the son
of Alicia Vergel and Cesar Ramirez, and the brother of Beverly Vergel.
At age 4, Ace Vergel, known as Ace York then, made his film debut in 1956's "Taong Putik" from Everlasting Pictures. Three
years later, at age 7, he did Anak ng Bulkan (1959) where he portrayed
the role of Bentoy, a boy who befriended a giant prehistoric bird named
Goliat.
The movie starred Edna Luna and Fernando Poe, Jr. Veteran character
actor and villain Bruno Punzalan was unforgettable as the stepfather of
Bentoy who made life miserable for the boy.

'ANAK NG BULKAN'(1959): A FILM BY EMMANUEL ROJAS
A monstrous giant bird soars high across Manila and suburbs in 1959 in Emmanuel Rojas’s “Anak ng Bulkan.” It caught the attention of the moviegoers because of its awesome display of visual and special effects unprecedented during that time. It’s truly amazing how Rojas was able to capture the needed effects with the limited resources at hand. The movie, set in a remote volcanic island, tells of the friendship between a little boy named Bentoy and a giant bird named Goliat.
Fernando Poe Jr. shared top billing with veteran actress, Edna Luna, but the main stars of the movie was the giant bird and the little boy played by 7-year old Ace York (or Ace Vergel). Veteran character actor Bruno Punzalan in the role of Mang Kanuto, the stepfather of Bentoy was unforgettable who made life miserable for the boy.

In 1977, Ace, at age 25, was reintroduced as Ace Vergel in the movie, Inay, a Lino Brocka film starring his mother Alicia Vergel. It was entry to that year's Metro Manila Film Festival.
Inay (1977) - Stars Alicia Vergel, Dindo Fernando, Chanda Romero, Orestes Ojeda, Laurice Guillen and Ace Vergel / Directed by Lino Brocka

In 1989, Vergel won the Best Actor award at GAWAD URIAN for his role in the film Anak ni Cabron.

The
actor had several brushes with the law linking him to illegal drugs;
rape charges also lodged against him. His personal life had always been a
mess which somehow stalled and hindered his progress as a fulfilled
actor.

Vergel died before dawn Saturday, December 15, 2007 after suffering from a heart attack. He was 55. Another movie icon lost.